Forced intimacy : the experiences of sexually victimized prisoners

Abstract:

Total institutions' (which include prisons) unique context
prescribes "confinement" of inmates. Coping mechanisms applied
"outside" (especially the ability to create distance from
stressful events) is thus ineffective.
Another common feature is lack of privacy, which may result
in "forced intimacy" - individuals being forced into a situation
of physical and psychological "invasion" (beyond the norm) of
their person/personal space. Victims lose control over intimate
decisions, including who may and may not be intimate with them.
Within prisons, gangs "force intimacy" by sexually
victimizing inmates, taking advantage of the context to heighten
their power, and to control inmates "under" them. Four
(subjects) victims' experiences and means of adaptation/
empowerment were investigated phenomenologically.
Results indicated that inadequately empowered victims
suffer prolonged and repeated victimization - a continued "posttraumatic
stress disorder" - which is more traumatizing and
draining than one circumscribed traumatic event (due to its
intensity, immobilization and resulting drastic change of
"personality").

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Unisa ETD [8116]Electronic versions of theses and dissertations submitted to Unisa since 2003